Exploring F-Zero GX

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We journey deeper into the game and detail its amazing Story Mode and Diamond Cup levels. New widescreen movies included.

By IGN Staff

For the last week, IGNcube editor-in-chief Matt Casamassina has spent his days and nights with the Japanese build of Nintendo's futuristic racer F-Zero GX. He has proposed to it twice, but sadly the game is reluctant to marry him. Still, he's become something of an F-Zero expert now and can with some skill maneuver through the twisting, turning, looping tracks that comprise the various cups in the game -- a feat gained after losing more times than can be counted. Following, Casamassina delves deeper into GX's compelling Story Mode and also details some of the amazing tracks in -- gasp -- the unlockable Diamond Cup.

For me, it's official: F-Zero GX is one of the most difficult games to come out for any system in the last several years. But I can't pull myself away from it. Every time I lose, I think, "this is ridiculous -- is it even possible to beat this level?" and then in the next moment I find myself trying again. The tracks are so compelling, so beautiful, and the speed so unequaled, that you'll be drawn back to the title whether you want to be or not.

There are several game play modes in GX, but its two main draws are the Story Mode and the Grand Prix. There are at least 10 Story Mode chapters and while that doesn't sound like an excessive amount, you'll have to fight for your very life to unlock every single one. Additionally, you'll have to explore and beat some of the Grand Prix cups in order to earn more money, which in turn can be used to buy more chapters in Story Mode. Few chapters in this mode can be beaten in the first try. If you're anything like me, or my horrible co-workers (Fran, especially), you'll probably spend hours with each one.

Each Story Mode chapter seems to teach you specific moves that can be used in the game and simultaneously tests your skills. In one, a bomb is attached to Captain Falcon's vehicle and then he's made to race through a seriously twisting, obstacle-filled course. However, there's a catch: in homage to the movie Speed, if your acceleration drops below 700 KPH then Falcon's craft will explode and the mission will be failed. The only way to successfully navigate the track is to learn how to properly power drift (pressing the R and L buttons together around corners). I failed the mission more than 15 times before I finally got the hang of it. In another chapter, Falcon must beat his rival racer to the finish line, but the track is so long that it's way too easy to run out of boost before the hero ever gets close to his goal. The solution is to use the Z button to 360-spin enemies off the track (which earns Falcon more boost power). It's not as easy as it sounds. I probably wasted another 15 lives to accomplish this particular feat. In another chapter still, Falcon must race down a tunnel and avoid walls which narrow and close on him, leaving only a small gap to race through. Several IGN editors tried to beat this stage for a couple of hours before I finally navigated it. There are even more seemingly impossible challenges. I'm stuck on one now in which I must complete a circuit filled with lava and mines, not to mention competing drivers who try their hardest to ram me into both. It is amazingly difficult -- but I'm loving every second of it.

Then there is the Diamond Cup. Before I get to it, though, let me first detail what you need to do before you can unlock it. There are three main circuits including Ruby Cup, Sapphire Cup and Emerald Cup, and each one consists of five different tracks. You can race the courses on Novice, Standard and Expert settings. I'd recommend the circuits on each setting as this way you can earn more points which can be used to buy Story Modes and machine parts. Plus, you're better off racing the Cups on Novice before you attempt going them on Standard -- trust me on this. The Diamond Cup is opened only after you've won all three Cups on the Standard setting -- no easy task, but entirely satisfying. Naturally, the courses contained in the Diamond Cup are the craziest yet, from the totally tweaked and enhanced Aeropolis (which is filled with more drops and jumps than any other level in the game) to the psychedelic trip through the glowing, space-like Phantom Road, which words can't really describe (which is why I've included a movie in our media section). The maps for some of these courses look like Hot Wheels created by a mad scientist on acid. In other words, they're, uh, insane.

The interesting thing about F-Zero GX, especially now that I've been able to advance through the majority of the Story Mode and through the Diamond Cup, is that I can't stop. I've spent the majority of the afternoon unlocking extras and even as today's deadline approaches, I can barely break away to write impressions. So I'm sure you can guess what I'll be doing with my time this evening.

If you haven't pre-ordered GX yet, do so now. And if you're on the fence about whether to buy a new progressive scan or widescreen television, take a look at the gorgeous new movies in our media section and then speed do yourself a favor and make the purchase. Once you've seen GX on a high-end setup there's simply no going back.